Begonia plant named ‘TMBEG096’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘TMBEG096’, characterized by its upright to spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately freely basal branching habit; freely and continuously flowering habit; fragrant flowers; single and double flowers that are orange, orange red and yellow in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TMBEG096’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘TMBEG096’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new trailing Begoniaplants with fragrant flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in August, 2008 of a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG07074A, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG07074B, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom in July, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by shoot tip cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdomsince August, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newBegonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘TMBEG096’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘TMBEG096’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to spreading and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Freely and continuously flowering habit.    -   4. Fragrant flowers.    -   5. Single and double flowers that are orange, orange red and        yellow in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have light yellow and orange-colored flowers.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more fragrant than        flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have double and single flowers        whereas plants of the male parent selection have semi-double        flowers.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection        differ slightly in flower color.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Begonia are more fragrant than        flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the Begonia‘Encanto Orange’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,898. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Harkstead, Ipswich, UnitedKingdom, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants of ‘EncantoOrange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia had larger and darker green-colored        leaves than plants of ‘Encanto Orange’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Encanto Orange’.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Encanto Orange’.    -   4. Plants of the new Begonia had double and single flowers        whereas plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ only had single flowers.    -   5. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Encanto Orange’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Encanto Orange’ had bright        orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘TMBEG096’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close up views of upper and lowersurfaces of typical double and single flowers and upper and lowersurfaces of typical leaves of ‘TMBEG096’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown in 12-cm containers during thesummer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 19° C. and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants were 14 weeksold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘TMBEG096’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG07074A, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number BG07074B, not            patented.-   PROPAGATION:    -   -   Type.—By tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures of            about 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 40 to 42 days at            temperatures of about 21° C. to 23° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color; plants of the new Begonia have not been observed to            form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright to spreading and            mounded plant habit; flattened globular in shape; moderately            freely basal branching with about four primary branches per            plant; primary branches with secondary branches at            potentially every node; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 34.2 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter:            About 8 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent. Color: Close to 148B heavily tinged with close to            176B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 15 cm. Width: About 9.3 cm. Shape: Ovate to deltoid.            Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique, unequal cordate. Margin:            Bi-serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent; velvety. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate.            Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C to 146D            slightly tinged with close to 172B. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Darker than 147A; venation, close to 146C.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 148C to 148D            strongly tinged with close to 184B; venation, between 152A            and 197A. Petioles: Length: About 5.9 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately            pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 174B;            base, tinged with close to 152B to 152C; apex, close to            185A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Double (male) and single (female) rotate            flowers arranged in axillary cymes; freely flowering habit            with about three flowers per cyme and about 36 flowers            developing per plant; flowers and face mostly outwardly to            nodding.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; fragrance pleasant,            sweet-acidic.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about seven            weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            freely and continuously from spring until autumn in The            Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten days on            the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 16.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Flowers.—Female flowers, diameter: About 8.2 cm. Female            flowers, depth (height): About 3.8 cm. Male flowers,            diameter: About 9.5 cm. Male flowers, depth (height): About            4.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length, female flowers: About 2.1 cm. Diameter,            female flowers: About 8 mm to 18 mm. Length, male flowers:            About 3 cm. Diameter, male flowers: About 1.3 cm to 3.5 cm.            Shape, female and male flowers: Broadly ovate to nearly            circular, flattened. Color, female and male flowers: Close            to 34B to 34C; towards the base, close to 145C to 145D.        -   Tepals.—Quantity per flower: Female flowers, usually about            four per flower; male flowers, usually about two per flower.            Length, female flowers: About 4.9 cm. Width, female flowers:            About 2.9 cm to 4.3 cm. Length, male flowers: About 6 cm.            Width, male flowers: About 6.9 cm. Shape, female flowers:            Broadly obcordate to obovate. Shape, male flowers: Broadly            ovate to nearly circular. Apex, female and male flowers:            Obtuse. Margin, female and male flowers: Entire. Texture,            female and male flowers, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color, female and male flowers: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 30C; towards the margins,            close to N30B; toward the base, close to 14B. When opening,            lower surface: Close to N30A. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 13A to 13B; towards the margins, close to between            28A and 30B; color does not fade with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to between 30A and N30B; color            does not fade with development.        -   Tepaloids.—Quantity per flower: Present only on male            flowers, usually about 65 per flower. Length: About 2.4 cm            to 4.2 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm to 4 cm. Shape: Broadly            obcordate to obcordate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 8A;            towards the margins, close to 24C to 24D. When opening,            lower surface: Close to 10B; towards the margins, close to            29A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 13A to 13B;            margins, close to between 28A and 30B; color does not fade            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            between 30A and N20B; color does not fade with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Angle: About 40° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 199B; distally,            close to 185A.        -   Pedicels.—Length, female flowers: About 3.9 cm. Diameter,            female flowers: About 2 mm. Length, male flowers: About            1.4 cm. Diameter, male flowers: About 3 mm. Angle, female            flowers: About 40° from vertical. Angle, male flowers:            Mostly erect. Strength, female and male flowers: Moderately            strong. Texture, female and male flowers: Smooth, glabrous.            Color, female and male flowers: Upper surface: Close to 146D            strongly tinged with close to between 46A and 185A. Lower            surface: Close to 146D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Female flowers: Number of pistils:            About three per flower. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style            length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 14A. Stigma color:            Close to 14A. Ovary color: Close to 146D; upper surface and            apex strongly tinged with close to 173A. Male flowers: All            stamens on male flowers transformed into tepaloids.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Begonia has not been observed on plants of the new Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 12° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘TMBEG096’ asillustrated and described.